---

Gluttony. A word that suggests a craving for food. If you were to apply gluttony to a refined person, it could mean that they enjoy dining and are open to trying new culinary delights. But sometimes, it also conveys the meaning of someone who devours everything in sight and still longs for more.

Among those, the gluttony demon I know certainly falls into the latter category.

‘Its abilities centered around absorption and consumption.’

A devil that drools everywhere while devouring living beings.

It was a monster that literally swallowed its targets, absorbing them to increase its own power. The more remarkable the creature it swallowed, the more its own abilities would strengthen. It was endlessly hungry, obsessively searching for anything it could consume.

‘The fact that we managed to catch that demon among the others was probably by pure luck.’

However, it had a definite weakness.

‘For reasons unknown, it had been starving for a long time.’

Prolonged starvation caused it to gradually lose its strength. There were countless monsters and lesser demons in the dungeon, yet it seemed unable to properly feast, leaving it thin with its skin clinging tightly to its bones.

Thanks to that, we easily defeated it, making it incomparable to the dream demon before charging at the final demon.

‘Of course, we barely managed anything against the last one.’

It was outside our expectations. An aside to the story.

We might not have been able to make it through before our team was nearly wiped out. It had died before we could even fully grasp its unique abilities.

The important thing now is that traces of that gluttony have been found in this academy.

“Thank you for waiting. Here is the food you ordered.”

Lost in thought, I was finally presented with our share of food on the table. A dazzling spread, featuring a visually aggressive meat dish that made my mouth water, alongside beautifully plated salads and various other foods.

However, Shione could hardly take her eyes off my face rather than the food.

“Ray, do you know anything about that symbol?”

“Does it show on my face?”

“The difference between Ray who’s spacing out and Ray who’s deep in thought is huge. You don’t seem foolish this time at all.”

I sometimes thought that spacing out looked a bit silly or like something was off with me, but isn’t it a bit much to say that so directly?

Anyway, if I didn’t answer, she’d probably delay eating while waiting for my reply, so I gave her a brief response to her question.

“When I heard the shape of the symbol, I thought it might be connected to demons or cultists.”

“Well, if they went as far as to inscribe symbols on the corpse of an investigator who had suffered such severe injuries, it’s likely a criminal organization with poor moral standing or cultists.”

“If it’s the symbol I know, I’d have called it the symbol of gluttony.”

“Moreover… if you know it well, it’s likely the work of the cultists.”

I recalled the past when I had heard about the demons infiltrating Great Forest and the Marquis Family. Seeing her expression clearly conveyed her discomfort.

Since she knows my identity as an outsider in this world, she probably felt the weight of my words even more simply and directly.

Because of that, I felt the need to confirm Shione’s intentions.

“Are you planning to get involved in this matter?”

Isn’t it her style to dive into situations like this without hesitating?

There was a chance she might suddenly dash out full throttle, so it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

Fortunately, Shione shook her head while cutting her steak.

“No, for now… it’s more important to sort out magic for the future. And─”

Spoon.

She speared a piece of steak with her fork.

“I’m not expecting support like before, and since word has spread that I’m a knight, I’d be starting an investigation at the academy more seriously. So I have no intention of being forcibly entangled.”

Having remarked that the academy was famous for having exceptional personnel, she popped the steak into her mouth.

Chew, chew. Her lips moved cutely, and the corners of her mouth curved up in a smile. The serious look from before vanished, replaced by the joyful expression of a moonlit puppy.

“By the way, Ray, you should hurry up and eat before it gets cold! This melts right in your mouth!”

“Isn’t the chef at the Count’s house good at making steak too?”

“If both are equally delicious, then the one I’m not used to will taste even better.”

That’s a valid point.

I pretended to yield to her suggestion and started cutting the steak while thinking.

‘By the way, if the demon worshippers are at the academy─’

There wouldn’t be anything more annoying than us, Shione and I.

Having subdued the demons causing chaos in the royal family and beaten up the demons, our duo is famous throughout the kingdom for taking down demons.

Moreover, doesn’t Shione’s hair shine in the sunlight like it’s saying, “Please pay attention to me”? Given her cute appearance, it was hard not to look.

‘I must not let my guard down.’

There are those who would think of stabbing a princess in the royal family. They could just as easily swoop down on the street.

Still, having followed along under the pretext of protecting her, I shouldn’t just be careless and let my guard down.

As I widened my perception to remain vigilant, I raised the steak to my mouth.

Just then, as a smile was about to spread at Shione’s attentive gaze.

‘…A gaze?’

A focused attention detected through my expanded senses.

I rolled my eyes to identify the source of the artificial attention. It could just be my misunderstanding. Astonishingly, as my pupils scanned the vicinity, the gaze vanished like a phantom.

Whoooosh─!

With the wind blowing in from the terrace, I savored the aroma of the meat that wafted up to me and secretly summoned a spirit.

To ensure this uneasy atmosphere did not break, instead of the dazzling Elvis, a cute cotton puff was summoned quietly at my will, and I instructed Orna.

─Can you take a look over there? If you spot anyone suspicious, follow them a bit. If you feel like you might get caught, you don’t need to overdo it.

It’s one thing to say I wouldn’t interfere. However, if they started stirring things up while we remained still, it’s hard to just stand by.

If it leads to a brawl, I’d rather strike first.

─Myaaaan.

After hearing Orna’s soft agreement, I finally put the steak into my mouth.

“Ray, how does it taste? Isn’t it delicious as I said?”

“It is indeed delicious. But wouldn’t the food cooked by the family’s chefs be better?”

“…You really don’t understand my feelings at all?”

“As I just escaped from being a slave, I suppose I haven’t had much chance to eat the Count’s steak. I’m not used to either side.”

“Ah.”

Shione looked a bit sheepish.

Seeing her like that, I solidified my objectives at the academy even further.

Protecting Shione from clashes with demons. If they strike first, I’d handle them with the life-detection spell on Shione. The deadline would be until her magical improvement is finished and she leaves the academy.

“…If you wanted to eat steak, you could have said so. I could have prepared it for you.”

“There’s really no need for that. I wouldn’t be interested unless you fed it to me directly.”

It’s just that it was a rare opportunity to eat expensive, premium steak.

Not that I hadn’t eaten meat before, but surely, things like this should be eaten occasionally to appreciate the flavor even more. So I mentioned it nonchalantly.

Before long, Shione had opened her small mouth a few times, wearing a subtle smile while shrugging her shoulders.

“If you’re not going to feed it directly, then that means that you’re okay with me feeding you, right? I understand perfectly.”

What on earth does she mean by that?

Putting that question aside, our meal continued until it finally came to an end.

As we arrived at the magic department building for practice and the improvement of our spells with Epheana, an incident occurred.

Having sent an additional request asking to search a bit wider around the designated area, because I wondered if something else was around, it took a bit longer, but fortunately, Orna sent back a short premonition saying a suspicious person had been spotted. Though still inexperienced and young, I felt a sense of pride at how quickly she was executing the task I gave her.

Just as she showed her determination to return and receive praise, however.

─……!

A sudden sensation pierced through my head, coupled with Orna’s strong emotion.

The momentary emotion conveyed surprise and fear.

For a spirit mage, this could only mean one thing.

‘…Reverse Summoning.’

This only happens when a spirit is gravely injured or close to death.

What this meant was that there was a skilled individual capable of concealing their presence, even from the searching abilities of the wind that sensed the spirit’s existence.

I couldn’t be sure if they were a demon or not, but the fact that there was someone who could kill a spirit trying to tail them wasn’t a good sign.

The academy, with the campus empty due to the break, felt eerily cold, creating a chilling atmosphere.

“You came faster than I expected. I’ve set a spot here.”

As I accepted Epheana’s welcome, I thought about how something seemed to be wriggling in the shadows of the academy.

*

After spending quite a bit of time cooperating with the investigation and recharging the necklace, Sion Shianella found himself accompanying a guard far from the usual security that the academy boasted, as dusk fell and the twilight settled.

‘I usually wouldn’t mind going out for a nighttime stroll alone, but I was advised to avoid going out alone for a while.’

This was because I couldn’t ignore the investigator’s advice.

After all, the perpetrator was currently unidentifiable, and their whereabouts were elusive.

Based on that, it would be important to ensure safety and avoid venturing out alone for the time being if it could be avoided.

Sion thought as he checked the relic he was holding.

‘It’s hard to visit during the day…It’s proper that I personally deliver this item.’

The relic now filled with even purer divine power.

This was also the reason he had come out at this hour.

Knowing that his sister was busy with magic practice and improvement during the day, and that he too wouldn’t have much time, it was far safer to deliver such a relic personally than to let it pass through someone else’s hands.

Thus, he reluctantly set out on his way.

‘And…It would make her happier if I deliver it myself.’

Moreover, the biggest reason.

He was a brother who wished to mend his strained relationship with his sister.

He was, after all, well aware that both his past actions and current expressions weren’t particularly commendable.

He moved his feet as if he wanted to reveal his intentions, even if it was with actions he could not completely hide. One step, two steps. And just as he was diligently moving forward, he soon found his resolute advance came to an unintended halt under external circumstances.

“…Who are you?”

Multiple pairs of eyes were staring at him from the darkness.

 

---